Frigidaire Refrigerator SH Error Code — What It Means
SH shows on the temperature display when a temperature sensor, also called a thermistor, has shorted out. It appears on the freezer display for the freezer sensor and on the fresh food display for the refrigerator sensor.
With a shorted sensor the control board gets a bad temperature reading and cannot hold the right temperature. The fix is checking the sensor wiring and the thermistor resistance.
Common Causes
- Shorted thermistor The temperature sensor has failed internally and reads outside its normal resistance range.
- Pinched sensor wiring A wire rubbing against metal can short the sensor circuit to ground.
- Moisture in the connector Water in the sensor plug can bridge the contacts and mimic a short.
- Damaged wire harness Crushed or melted insulation can short two sensor wires together.
- Faulty control board input If the sensor tests good, the board sensor input may be at fault.
Step-by-Step Fix
- Unplug the refrigerator before touching any wiring.
- Locate the sensor for the display showing SH, freezer or fresh food.
- Disconnect the sensor harness and inspect it for pinched or wet wires.
- Measure the thermistor resistance with a multimeter.
- Compare the reading to spec, near 32,500 ohms at 32 degrees and 11,300 ohms at room temperature.
- Replace the thermistor if the resistance is near zero or far off spec.
- Dry and reseat the connector, then restore power and confirm the code is gone.
Parts Often Needed
| Part | Notes |
|---|---|
| Frigidaire refrigerator temperature sensor | Amazon | Thermistor for the fresh food section. Match to your model. |
| Frigidaire freezer temperature sensor | Amazon | Thermistor for the freezer section. Confirm the part number. |
| Sensor wire harness | Amazon | Replace if the insulation is pinched, melted, or shorted. |
When to Call a Pro
If both the sensor and its wiring test within spec but SH keeps coming back, the sensor input on the control board may be damaged. Board level testing is a reasonable point to call a technician.